A masquerade at the VSM in Beekbergen on 2 September 2018. When in 1944 the US Army launched their massive liberation effort of Western Europe, massive orders for steam and diesel locos wree placed by the military to cope with the expected extra traffic and shunting work (the armies needed to be equipped and replenished with fresh troops, materiel, tanks and usables like food, water and munition). Whitcomb Locomotive Company modified a 1943 design for the USATC and sold more than a hondred of these to the military. After the War, France,, Italy and the Netherlands bought the for the USATC surplus locos. NS bought twenty, 18 of which entered service and two for spares, numbering them 2001-2018. In 2018, VSM hit the fraternity headlines when they bought an old American Whitcomb and restored her externally in NS 1950s condition. Sinds she was not of the original NS-batch, the VSM followed preservation customs with giving their newby the first number after the last original, hence planting No.2019 in her fleet.

Leonardus Schrijvers 25.11.2020, 150 Calls, 0 Comments